The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-21
From Our Second Edition of Sunddy.I
BEECHER's ILLNESS AND DEATH.
The Story of the Great Preachers Last Hours
Told by His Faithful and Devoted Wife.

Mrs Henry Ward Beecher and her children hoped
that the homo facts and incidents or the death OF MI
Beechtr would be printed but that the medical
statement of the would be the only one made
They recognize however, that that could not De
expected when the interest and sympathy and curl
osy of tho world concerning the departure OF SO
great man were taken into consideration.
Accounts of the last were inevitable. Many
inaccuracies in such accounts were certain some at
the time warc unavoidable, and not few have been on
. nature by which history may be miscd and wrong
full differences of the spirit and habits of Mr. Beech
cr's home life be formed The family recognize that
for all these the simple facts would better be
simply told.
Accordingly Mrs. Beecher has communicated them
to Eaglo representative with the purpose and re-
quest that he write them out for publication just as
they were, and just they told to him. He has
done SO in what follows.-ED. EAGLE.
Thursday, the Sd Of March. was Henry Ward
Reechers last day OF health and full conscious
ness the earth. The day before, Wednesday.
the I'd of March, in the evening, his wife SAID
20 him.
Father, can you leave off your writing to-
morrow2 / want you to go with me to New
York"
YES mother, will whether ! can or not;
what do you want me to DOR
The two called one another father and mother
when speaking TO or of one another, as the habit
OF long married lovers is. The applications of
the children thus become woven in with the
habits of talk of the parents. The parental
feeling was so strong in both that its form of
iepeech expressed the protective sense of each
toward the other.
her husband that she wanted him to select. with
her, furniture for the parlors Of the church and
other things mentioned. They went to New
York early Thursday morning wandered and
shopped there at will all day. and got home
IN good time for tea, Mr.. Beecher taking
his usual short nap before that meal.
1T was the happiest day Of my
life, remarked Mrs. Beecher. Il never knew
my husband SO lively, tender and joyous before,
or not in long time. His mind, heart and
health were at their best. He overfowed with
talk, both humorous and serious. am 30
glad, mother said he, that you are we'll enough
again to interest yourself in church work. The
fair we have had got all the ladies together 1t
gave them something to do. Each ones gift
work or help was equal in spirit and value The
proceeds were enough to newly furnish the par
Tors. The event will lead to social meetings
again. Ii there has been any apathy or hard
ness of feeling among the ladies it has been re-
moved want you to share my work. You
can do much Of it that cannot do or do nearly
well as you / want Plymouth to be again
as eminently social church as it was in other
years. You should meet the ladies frequently.
They love you and they love the church, and
they love to please and cooperate with you and
work for the church. 1t will make US both
young again."
In such talk and with pleasant work the two
passed the last day he was to see with fullness
That night Mr.. Beecher dined with the fami-
ly, played backgammon in the sitting room,
waited for couple that wanted to be married,
went out on An erranQ ana returned q lew lnln-
utes before 8. At he said:
Il guess I'll go to bed.'
why. father what does that meant Is there
anything the matter with your asked Mrs
peecher.
Nothing he sniney answered. ''only I'm
bred. I've done good deal Of work with you
to day.
But you've been tired before and never re-
tired until about TO-" rejoined his wife.
well, guess I'll go to bed anyway" he said,
and he did.
He babe those assembled good night, went mp
stairs with a firm tread and, according to what
che further had said to him, Mrs. Beecher went
upstairs quarter of an hour later, not intend
ing then to retire, but to write near him in the
adjoining room. When Mrs Beecher won't
upstairs she found Mr. Beecher sound
ing his right hand. She was surprised,
for 1t was his habit to undress gradually, to
sit in his shirt sleeves and read little, to talk
a while "a the events of the day and TO 60 to
bed about an hour after going up stairs. How
over, Mrs Beecher found him sleeping so tran
uujlly that she did not disturb him. She wrote
III Che adjoining room until A. NJ. Then. find
ing her husband still asleep, she concluded to
fleep in the room in which she had been writing.
instead of, as her habit was. with him, so a not
to disturb him. She passed her hand over his
forehead and felt of his left hand. The flesh
was warm and natural and his sleep was as the
sleep of a little child.
Some hours after retiring Mrs. Beecher was
aroused by sound in her husbands room. She
at once to his side and found him suffering
from extreme nausea. The attack was long and
hard, but he experienced entire relief. 1t was
between and in the morning.
Father, what's the matter?" she asked.
Mother nothing only sick headache" he
said.
Henry you never had headache in your
life before. Something must be wrong" she
anxiously rejoined.
mo; it's only sick headache. Ishall be bet
ter ne replied.
Mrs. Beecher wiped her husbands face and
hands. removed the traces Of the nausea
smoothed and arranged his pillows. While she
was doing that he said:
"You are not by me tonight. Well dear, gc
to sleep again, and don't stay up in your bare
feet
When the lady returned after this from pac
ing towel on the rack and approached the bee
where Mr.. Beecher was, she again surprised
to find he had instantly fallen in profound sleep
Nevertheless she did not disturb him, but wen
again to the bed IN the adjoining room. Mrs
Beecher, as her habit is, arose and dressed at
A. NJ. She noticed her husband still sleeping
She resumed her writing, and was surprised
that neither the rising bell nor the breakfas
bell walked him. 1t had never been SO before.
The family of children and grandchildren
trooped down the stairs that Friday morning
joking. laughing and chasing one another OF
their way TO breakfast Mrs. Beecher descend
ed last. with a heavy heart but hopeful tina
slumber meant recuperation. Entering tn
room, she narrated what has been told and ex
pressed her apprehension.
Nonsense, mother" said Colonel Beecher
.'you know the Beechers all cure themselves i
sleep. / wouldn't waken him."
There's not much likelihood of my wakin
HIM. if the noise you all made coming dowl
stairs didn't do it," she resumed Mrs. Beeche
then asked her daughter in law what Mr.
Beecher had eaten for supper the night before
Nothing but six roasted Clans was that lady
reply. There xere six sent to each plate. Nj
Beecher did not send up his plate second tim,
AS Le was accustomed to and fond Of that dish
It was agreed that that did not account for hi
nausea.
Mr.. Beecher slept through the day. His wifi
went to his side several times, but did not di!
turb him. Near O'clock in the afternoon, te